Merchandise dispensing and recording system



' Dec. 1952 E. s. PETERSON ,6

MERCHANDISE DISPENSING AND RECORDING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 26, 1947 9 Sheets-Sheet l BB! 2'55! 4 88!! N So-UH Q q E s INVENTOR. EDWARD S. PETERSON ATTORNEY Dec. 30, 1952 E. s. PETERSON MERCHANDISE DISPENSING AND RECORDING SYSTEM 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 26, 1947 1141i. OOOOG OG INVENTOIC EDWARD S. PETERSON ATTORNEY Dec. 30, 1952 E. s. PETERSON MERCHAND ISE DISPENSING AND RECORDING SYSTEM 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 26, 1947 FIG.I6

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'INVENTOR. EDWARD S. PETERSON ATTORNEY Dec. 30, 1952 s PETERSON 2,623,694

MERCHANDISE DISPENSING AND RECORDING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 26, 1947 9 sheets-sheet 5 n I f] D I! u: 8 0 l (2 Q o N 2 I q? n 2 N g 0! N l- 0. 6-5 r- 2 K:

INVENTOR. EDWARD S. PETERSON ATTORNEY Dec. 30, 1952 E. s. PETERSON MERCHANDISE DISPENSING AND RECORDING SYSTEM 9 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 26, 1947 INVENTOR.

EDWARD S. PETERSON ATTORNEY Dec. 30, 1952 E. s. PETERSON MERCHANDISE DISPENSING AND RECORDING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 26, 1947 9 Sheets-Sheet a I I I *4 F IG.22

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8 EDWARD s. PETERSON ATTORNEY Dec 30, 1952 Flled Feb. 26, 1947 THI Patented Dec. 30, 1952 MERCHANDISE DISPENSING AND RECORDING SYSTEM Edward Petersom'Elmwood Park, 111., assignor to Automatic Electric Laboratories, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application February 26, 1947, Serial No. 731,153

13 Claims.- 1

This invention relates to improvements in re motely controlled merchandise dispensing and data recording systems, and particularly to such a system controlled from a perforated tape. The principal application envisioned for this system is for a retail store, such as a grocery store, dealing primarily in packaged goods sold for cash and in large volume, on a self service basis.

In such a store, the merchanidse would be stored on upper floors or on a mezzanine or both, from where it would be loaded into dispensing chutes leading to the main floor. These dispensing chutes would be provided with a gate mechanism at their lower end, which when operated would cause one item or package to be ejected onto a moving conveyor belt. This conveyor belt in turn, would convey the ejected package or item swiftly to a central wrapping and cashiers station.

The stated wrapping and cashiers station would most likely be at the front end of the main floor so as to allow' room for a large number of chutes disposed transversely across the rear end of the store. Arranged around the walls, or wherever else convenient, would be a number of illuminated display cases containing a sample of each item of merchandise sold. Eaeh display case would also be provided with an-o'pen: ing or slot for each item displayed, to permit the selection of suchitem by a customer. At the bot tom of eachslot would be a stick of printers type containing the name of the item and its price, together with a small set of tape punches or perforators, in the form of metal pins.

As each customer enters the store, he or she takes from a rack a small elongated tape punch having outside dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the selection slots in the display cabinets. The customer carries'thi's punch by a handle provided on the back end, and, to select an order, has merely to insert the forward end thereof into those selection slots corresponding to the items desired. Each insertion of the punch inteaslot causes the name and price of the corresponding item to be printed from the type in the slot onto a paper tape concealed inside of the punch, while the pins in the slot punch a group of holes in the tape in a given code pattern corresponding to said item and price information. A number of other holes may also be punched into the pattern or group of holes by the pins at the same time, for various control purposes, as well be seen. Each withdrawal of the punch causes the tapeto advance automaticalq- 1y toa new setting, so that the different groups of holes representing the various items of the customers order, are'in spaced-apart relationship to one another, along the length of the tape.

To select several items of the same kind, assuming them to be normally sold singly, the customer has only to insert the punch into the same slot as many times as may be necessary. Guides are provided to prevent the punch from being inserted in the Wrong matter. This punch, how'- ever, together with the display cabinets and slots, and the general arrangement of the store, do not form part of the present invention, and are de scribed briefly herein merely as background, to facilitate the complete understanding of the im vention.

After the customer has completed the selection of the order, in the manner described, he or she hands the punch to the cashier at the previously mentioned cashiers position. The cashier will detach the perforated length of tape and restore the punch, or cause it to be restored, to the rack from whence it was originally taken. The cashier then inserts the front end of the tape into a tape translator mounted on the top of the counter, and closes the translator cover over it. This starts a small motor under the counter which thereupon proceeds to drive the tape through the translator and over a set of sensing brushes therein, at high speed.

As the various groups of holes in the tape pass over the sensing brushes, they close electrical circuits which cause the operation of the required merchandise chutes, and the ejection thereby of the items of the customers order, which are then delivered, by the conveyor belt or belts, to a wrapping counter near the cashiers position. Eaeh group of holes at the same time, also causes an electrically operated adding machine at the cashiers position to accumulate the prices of the different items, and to count the number of items involved. At the completion of the passage of the tape through the translator, the adding machine automatically prints the total of the number of items and the total price, on a second tape, resets itself, and feeds out the printed section of tap'efor the use of the cashier and the wrapping clerk, the entire operation, from the starting of the tape to the delivery of the goods at the wrapping counter and the ejection of the recording tape at the cashiers position, being completed in a matter of a few seconds.

It will be apparent from the foregoing summary, that a considerable amount of electrical and mechanical equipment, including a large number of chutes, would be required for such an installation. The cost of this equipment can be justified only by proportionate savings in space costs, labor costs or general overhead costs. It will be obvious therefore, that high speed and reliability of operation are essential in order to produce a large volume of business with a minimum equipment and personnel.

The main object of my invention is therefore the provision of a remotely controlled merchandise dispensing system of the type described which operates at high speed with simple straightforward circuits, and maximum reliability of operation.

One feature of my invention is the use of a very small and simple translator of comparatively low cost, using contact brushes arranged in a plurality of rows and columns very close together. The use of brushes permits high speed operation, and their arrangement in rows and columns permits the use of a tape of convenient width.

Another feature of the invention is the use of code relays arranged on a digital basis, in both the chute and price selection circuits. These relays are controlled from the tape and the translator brushes, and this double coding arrangement permits a very large number of selections from a small number of brushes and a still smaller number of perforations vper group.

Another feature consists of a control, or start circuit, operated from a special perforation in each group of perforations in the tape, whose function it is to permit operation of the select, or code relays, only when all of the perforations of the group are over their respective brushes. This is necessary to prevent false operations, or needlesspumping of these relays, since each of the holes in the tape will pass over all of the brushes of the corresponding row, either on the approach thereto, or upon the departure therefrom.

A further feature consists in the use of allrelay control and timing circuits, which also contributes to fast operation, and to uniformity of equipment and mountings, which is also conducive to lower costs.

Still another feature consists in the use of a high speed adding machine of the single-action, non-locking-key type, commonly known as a CQmDtometer, for doing the recording. Since this machine does not normally print the figures, but merely accumulates the totals, in direct response to the key action, on a set of number display wheels visible to the operator, the possible speed attainable is considerably greater than with the usual printing type adding machine, which requires a printing bar operation for each number of the series, as well as for the final total. The Comptometer has been modified by substituting type wheels for the number display wheels, and adding a printing means, to permit the printing of totals only. A number of electromagnets, or solenoids, have also been added to permit operation by remote control.

A further feature comprises circuits operated automatically from the translator in response to the passage of the rear end of the customers tape, to actuate the aforementioned printing mechanism, which thereupon prints the total cost of the order and the total number of items included.

Other features consist in the addition to the Comptometer of automatic tape-feed and inkribbon-feed mechanisms, in addition to the key operating magnets and a reset magnet for automatically resetting the type wheels after the printing operation.

Still another feature consists in the use of separate adding machines for different classes of merchandise, and the automatic selection and operation thereof, from the customers tape. Another feature provides an additional adding machine for accumulating and printing the overall totals for each such order including items in different classes, and a grand total machine for accumulating the total of all orders passed through the translator during the day.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims following, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings comprising Figures 1 to 23 inclusive, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention. It will be apparent that numerous changes in the general arrangement are possible without affecting the breadth or scope of the invention. Also the general application of the system is not meant to be limited to use in a retail store, since it could also be used for a wholesale or a mail order house, where clerks would be enabled to select customers orders by remote control. In this case the display cabinets would probably be unnecessary, since the select slots could be identified by catalog number only. In fact, the tapes could be prepared in some entirely different manner, since the present invention starts with the prepared tape.

With reference to the drawings, Figures 1 to 7 inclusive illustrate the translator and associated equipment, Figures 8 to 11 one of the merchandise chutes, Figures 12 to 18 the calculating machine or Comptometer and Figures 19 to 23 the basic or overall circuit.

Figure 1 is a partial top view of the tape translator with the main cover back, showing the tops of the brushes. The main paper drive roller and the latching mechanism are also shown, with their protective covers removed.

Figure 2 is a partial front elevation of the translator, with a portion broken away to show the lower or idler paper drive roller, and its control bar.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the translator with the cover back, and the body broken through the center to conserve space. A portion of one end of the mounting bracket for the latching mechanism is also shown broken away as an aid in Visualizing the relationship of some of the parts.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional side view of some of the translator brushes, showing the method of mounting in insulating blocks.

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the start and latching mechanism of the translator, including the start contact springs and the paper-feed idler roller controlled by this mechamsm.

Figure 6 shows a thyratron tube circuit which may be inserted between the brushes and the code or select relays if considered desirable, and

Figure 7 shows a portion of a translator tape, I

with two typical sets of perforations therein.

Figures 8 and 9 are side and end views of the bottom end of a chute with the gate closed, and Figures 10 and 11 are similar views with the gate fully open.

Figures 12 and 13 are partial side and top views respectively of the Comptometer, indicating the general arrangement of the key-operating, reset, and printing magnets or solenoids, the

type wheels, and the feed mechanisms for the recording tape and the ink ribbon, which have been added to this machine, without effect on its internal operation.

Figure 14 is an enlarged top view of one of the type wheels, which are just visible in the lower part of Figure 13.

Figure 15 shows a portion of the recording tape with a typical printing thereon including an item count of 2 at the left, and a money total of 32 cents at the right.

Figure 16 shows in diagrammatic form, a front view of the printing mechanism, including the paper-tape and ink-ribbon supply spools, the ink-ribbon reversing bar, the tape driving rollers, a type wheel, and a printing magnet.

Figure 17 shows in diagrammatic form, a top view of the ink ribbon feed mechanism including the two supply spools one full and one empty, the driving motors, the ribbon guides, the reversing switches and the tips of the reversing bar, while Figure 18 shows the reversing bar as seen from below.

Figures 19 to 23 show in diagrammatic fcrm the basic electrical circuits required for operating the system, as previously indicated. Thus, Figure 19 shows the connections for the translator top plate and brush circuits, start switch and driving motor, and the miscellaneous translator control relays; Figure 20 shows the select relays for operating the adding machine or machines; Figure 21 shows the adding machine circuits with the ink ribbon circuit omitted; Figure 22 shows a portion of the select relays for operating the merchandise chutes; and Figure 23 shows the remainder of the chute select relays, up to and including the chute operating magnets. In fitting these circuits together Figure 22 should be placed on the right of Figure 19, with Figure 20 directly below Figure 19, Figure 21 below Figure 20, and Figure 23 below Figure 22.

Referring to the drawings and equipment in more detail, the translator, shown in Figures 1 to 5, may be seen to consist of a box or housing I, mounted on a base plate 2 arranged to be secured in place over a hole in the cashiers counter. This translator is provided with a small brush cover 3, hinged to the housing at 4, and provided with an insulated handle 5. Inside this cover and flush with the lower edge thereof is a phenolic plate 6 (Fig. 3) carrying four slidably mounted studs 1, the outer ends of which thread into a stainless steel contact plate 8 held resiliently a short distance below the cover by coiled springs 9 mounted on the studs 1. An electrical connection is made to this contact plate by means of an insulated stranded wire H) which is brought in through an insulating bushing, not shown, in the rear end of the cover, and soldered to the head of one of the studs 1. A pointed latching pin H having a locking slot 12 just above the slope of the tip, is securely mounted to the front end of the phenolic plate 6, and extends for some distance below and at right angles to said plate, through a semi-circular opening cut in the front edge of the contact plate 8.

The central portion of the housing I is covered with a phenolic plate 13 (Fig. 1), provided with holes I4 for the contact brushes 15, which are arranged in four rows of eight across the middle of the translator, plus two additional control and end of tape brushes, located as shown. The plate [3 is also provided on its front edge with a semi-circular opening 20 through which the latching pin I I passes when the cover is closed, to engage the latching mechanism, and thereby hold the contact plate 3 down against the brushes 5, by the tension stored in the coiled springs 9 from the act of forcing the cover shut. Four raised metallic inserts IS in the plate l3 serve to limit the bending or deformation of the brushes, which protrude for a slight distance above the upper surface of this plate. Also mounted above the plate It, at the entering end of the translator, and just to the right of the cover, is a sheet metal paper guide 2! having turned in edges 22, for guiding the perforated tape properly over the brushes. To conserve space, a portion of this guide has been omitted, since its nature and construction are conventional, and fairly obvious.

At the outlet end of the translator and just above the top surface thereof, is a soft rubber drive roller 23 rotatably mounted between end plates 24, which are securely fastened to the inside side walls of the housing I which is open at this point. A sprocket wheel 25, mounted on an extension of the drive roller shaft 25, over a hole 2'! in the base plate 2, is driven by a chain drive, not shown, from a small electric motor, not shown, on the under side of the base plate. Just below the drive roller 23, on the inside of the housing, is a soft rubber idler roller 28 normally out of contact with the drive roller 23. This idler roller is rotatably mounted on a forked con-' trcl bar 29 as has been shown in Figure 2 by breakin away a portion of the side of the housing and the near end plate. The control bar 29 is pivoted at 3B in such a way that when the cover 3 is closed and latched, the latching pin I I presses the right end of the control bar downwards in the manner shown in detail in Figure 5, thereby raising the left end of the control bar, and forcing the idler roller 28 up against the drive roller 23. A cover guard, not shown, is provided for the sprocket wheel and drive roller.

The control bar and latching mechanisms are shown in detail in Figure 5, as already indicated. Top and end views of the latching mechanism, with its U-shaped housing 35, are also shown in Figures 1 and 3, with the housing partly broken away in Figure 3. A small auxiliary cover, not shown, fastens to the front of the housing 35 with screws. The right hand end of the control bar 29, which is completely shown in Figure 5, normally rests lightly on a pair of normally open contact springs 36, which form a part of the start circuit. A second pair of contact springs 37, which also form a part of the start circuit, and are connected in series with springs 37, are held normally closed by an extension 38 on a rocker arm 38. The left end of the rocker arm 39, which is pivoted at "50 on the fixed post 4!, is loosely yoked to a latching bar 42. This latching bar 6?. is slidably mounted in a bushing in the front wall of the housing I, so that its flat tip or tongue projects inside of the housing and into the path of the latching pin II in the aperture 29 of Figure 1, where it is held under pressure by the coiled spring M.

When therefore, the cover 3 is closed and pressed shut, the sloping forward edge of the latching pin l l is forced against the rear edge of the tongue 43, thereby forcing the latching bar 42 outward. The rocker arm 39 and the extension 38 are thus rocked in an anti-clockwise direction, and. cause the start contacts 3? to open by relieving the pressure thereon. At the same time, the tip of the latching pin ll presses down-on the right side of the control bar 29, thereby closing the start contacts 36 and raising the idler roller 28 into engagement with the drive roller 23. The start circuit is now closed at springs 36 but open at springs 31. Further pressure on the cover 3 finally brings the slot I2 of the latching pin in line with the tongue 43 of the latching bar and the latter is pressed forward into the slot by the coiled spring 44. This stops the movement of the cover 3, and looks it securely in the closed position. At the same time, it also causes rocker arm 39 to rotate a short distance in a clockwise direction, to again close start contacts 31. The start circuit is now complete, and the translator motor starts automatically, in a manner to be described later.

For unlocking the cover 3 and stopping the motor, a push button 45 is provided which threads onto the front end of a push rod 46, slidably mounted in a bushing 4! in the face of the U-shaped housing 35. The rear end of the push rod 46 normally rests against the right end of the rocking arm 39 (see Fig. 3), and is normally forced outward thereby until the stop pin 48 (see Fig. l) in the rod 46 rests against the rear side of bushing 41. Pressing in on the push button again rocks arm 39 anti-clockwise and withdraws the latching bar from the slot in the pin 1 l. The pressure of the springs 9 against the contact plate 8 of the cover thereupon causes the cover to snap partly open and withdraw the latching pin, thereby restoring the control and rocking bars 29 and 39, and opening start contacts 36.

The contact brushes, shown enlarged in Figure 4, each consist of a small bundle of some sixteen very fine steel piano wires l5, each approximately .010 in diameter, threaded through a small brass tube 49 which is then crimped on the outside to hold the wires firmly in place. These brass tubes or brush holders G9 are then forced into tight fitting diagonal holes accurately drilled in an insulating block 66 having sloping shoulders 51 against which rest a corresponding shoulder on the upper end of each tube 49 when the tubes are in place. The dimensions are such that when the brushes are completely home, the lower ends of the brush holder tubes protrude slightly belowthe bottom face of the block 56. For making the electrical connections, a second insulating block 52 carrying special terminal inserts corresponding to the brushes, is secured to the under side of the block 56 in such a way that each terminal engages the protruding end of a corresponding brush holder. These terminal inserts consist of a metal shell or cartridge 53, open at the upper end, which is flush with the upper face of the block 52, and having a tail lug 54 which extends below the block. Inside each insert is a small metal plunger 55 resting on a coiled spring 56, which presses the plunger firmly against the brush holder in order to make good electrical connection therewith. Wires are finally soldered to the tail lugs 54, and taken out through an opening in the bottom of the translator housing and the base plate 2.

The thyratron circuit of Figure 6 is conventional. It is intended only as an alternative method of picking up the pulses from the translator, since upon trial, the system was found to operate satisfactorily without it, up to tape speeds of some three items per second. Briefly, this circuit consists of a gas thyratron tube 66 having its grid 68 normally connected to 50 volts from the dry disc rectifier 6| and the associated network 62, The grid is also connected to the corresponding translator brush [5 which is'normally open.

A triggering relay 63 is connected to the plate 66, and +48 volts to the cathode 69 and the shield 61. To cause the tube to fire, it is necessary to make the grid less negative, which is made possible by connecting +48 volts to the translator contact plate 8. Thus, when a hole in the paper tape 19 passes over the brush [5, the brush circuit is momentarily completed, the grid becomes momentarily less negative, and the tube fires between cathode and plate. This operates relay 63, which in turn operates relay 6 3, which is made slightly sluggish through the use of a copper slug on the armature end of the core. Relay 64 oper-, ating, passes a pulse of current to the corresponding select or control relay, and at back contacts 65 opens the plate circuit, which causes the tube to stop firing. Relay 63 then restores,

followed by relay 64, by which time the brush circuit is again open and the grid positive.

In Figure 7 is shown a section of a customer's tape 16 shown in the position in which it is inserted into the translator, with the control perforation on the right, and the direction of travel as indicated by the small arrow alongside of the tape. This tape, while preferably of paper having dimensions corresponding to an adding machine tape, might also be of some other thin material, and could be made in any desired width, to suit possible changes in the arrangement of the translator brushes, which of course could be arranged in eight rows of four as readily as in four rows of eight. The arrangement shown was considered preferable however, as a compromise between undue length in the tapes, and undue width, both of which would make handling awkward. The light dotted lines also shown are not a part of the tape, but have been added merely to show the relationship of the holes shown to the various rows and columns.

With reference to the merchandise chute illustrated in Figures 8 to 11, this chute, which may of course have various dimensions and be inclined at any suitable angle, depending on the type of merchandise involved, consists of a U-shaped metal trough 86 having raised ridges in the bottom to reduce the friction and facilitate sliding. Mounted on edge on the under side of the chute along the longitudinal axis thereof, is a narrow anchor block 82 having a longitudinal slot 83 down the center, parallel with the floor of the chute. This block, while it appears as a single piece in the drawings, for convenience, is actually four pieces, a top and a bottom and two side pieces, spot welded together.

On either side of the anchor block 62 are a pair of movable stop arms 86, pivoted at 65 (Fig. 8) and having a diagonal slot 86 at the approximate center thereof. On the outside of the stop arms 84 are mounted a pair of movable curved gate arms 81, also pivoted at 85, and having tips 88 bent outwardly at right angles to which is welded a gate piece 89. These gate arms are also provided with diagonal slots 96, located similarly to the slots 86 but inclined in the reverse direction. These gate and stop arms are normally held in the position shown in Figures 8 and 9 by a pin 9| passed through the front end of the four diagonal slots in the stop and gate arms, through the slot 63 in the anchor block 82, and through a hole in the front end of a pull rod 92 which is inserted into the slot 83 from the rear, and fits loosely therein so as to be free to slide back and forth. The rear end of the pull rod 92 is connot shown, and is normally held in its extreme forward position by coiled springs, not shown, connected between two turned down lugs 93 on the under side of the chute, and side ears 95 on a U-shaped bracket 94 spot welded to the pull rod in such a location as also to serve as a stop on the forward movement. When the solenoid operates, the backward movement of the pull rod 92 pulls the pin 9| back against the inclined slots, forcing the gate 81 down, and the stops 84 up through a small hole in the floor of the chute to the positions shown in Figures 10 and 11. As the gate and stops thus reverse their position, the lowermost item in the chute is released, while the stops 84 rise into the path of the next item in line. Upon the release of the solenoid, the coiled springs previously mentioned restore the gate and stops to their original positions, and as the stops 84 move out of the path of the second item, the gate 81 rises into its path to stop it. In this way, only one item is ejected from the chute at each operation of the pull rod 92.

The adding machine used is a standard Comptometer manufactured by the Felt and Tarrant Manufacturing Company of Chicago, Illinois, generally similar to that shown and described in Patent No. 2,063,962 issued to J. A. V. Turck on December 15, 1936, except for the use of a hand crank instead of a push key for resetting, which I have modified to permit remote control operation and the printing of totals. Since the internal arrangement and operation of this machine have not been changed in any way, no details of the internal mechanism have been shown in the drawings. The reset mechanism is similar to that shown and described in Patent No. 1,357,748 issued to J. A. V. Turck on November 2, 1920.

Briefly however, this device may be described as a motor operated, multiple order, key responsive calculating machine having nine rows of digital keys, numbered similarly, from 1 to 9, for the operation of a plurality of digital display wheels, one for each row of keys, carried in a rocking frame at the front end of the machine. These display wheels carry around their periphery the numerals 1 to O, the uppermost numerals of the different wheels being visible through openings in the top of the machine, with the zeros being normally uppermost. Each display wheel is controlled by an individual pivoted rack sector, through a train of gears having carryover fac lities to permit the accumulation of totals, and each rack sector in turn, is controlled from the keys of the corresponding row of keys, in accordance with the digital value of the operated key. Since th normal position of the display wheels is the Zero position, no key operations are required for any zeros in a number.

In this machine, the operation of any key in a row trips a hooked lever, which is connected to a setting-bar fastened to an arm on the associated rack sector, into the path of a toothed wheel continuously driven by the motor. The setting bar is thereby pulled sharply to the rear, and rotates the rack sector in a preliminary or setting movement. This causes a stopping-bar located just below the bottom end of the key plungers to move in the opposite direction, until one of a plurality of differently spaced stops thereon, one for each key in the row, strikes against the shank of the depressed key. This prevents any further movement of the rack sector which is provided with friction discs which slip for the remainder of the movement of the setting bar. The location of the stops is such 10 that the movement of the rack sectors is increased in regular angular increments with the ascending digital values of the keys.

After a definite travel distance of the setting bar, equivalent to the maximum possible travel of the rack sector, corresponding to the digit 8, the hooked lever is forced out of engagement with the motor driven toothed wheel, the sector rack released and returns to its normal position, driving its number display wheel through a ratchet wheel in the gear train as it goes. Thus each digit struck is accumulated immediately on the display wheels, with no waiting for the completion of the setting up of a number and the operation of printing bar or lever, as required with most printing types of calculating machines. Also the keys, while locked operated momentarily upon being struck, are restored to normal by spring tension individually, and automatically, as soon as the associated rack sector has completed its preliminary or setting movement.

To clear the machine, all of the off-normal display wheels are reset to their zero position simultaneously, through the manual operation of a short-stroke ball crank lever at the side of the machine. This causes a movement of the rocking frames suflicient to disengage the gear drive to the number wheels, whereupon the latter return under spring tension to their zero position.

The modified machine operates in the same general manner, except for being controlled by electromagnets, and that type wheels, such as shown in Figure l i, and carrying the digits 1 to 0 in type-face around their periphery, have been substituted for the display wheels to permit printing of totals. The gearing arrangement remains unchanged and all modifications other than the type wheels, are external to the Comptometer.

With reference to Figures 12 and 13, which show partial side and top views of the Comptometer and the added attachments, mounted on a special chassis, the chassis is indicated at I00, the bottom plate of the Comptometer at I01, the top plate of the Comptometer at I02, and the Coinptometer keys at I63. Mounted a short distance above the top plate 32 by means of spacer posts 194, is a flat metal plate H35, on which have been mounted a number of key-operating solenoids Hit, a row of printing solenoids I 67, and a reset solenoid I538. The reset solenoid, which is connected to a substitute reset crank :69 by a strong coiled spring Hi] to add resiliency and prevent hammering the reset mechanism against its stops, operates with an upward pull, whereas all of the other solenoids drive their plungers downward.

With reference to the rest of the special equipment shown in Figures 12 and 13, the type wheels, which are just visible in the lower part of Figure 13, are mounted as individual assemblies on a wide u shaped bracket III, which is fastened to the framework of the machine at the sides, so that each type wheel is directly under the corresponding printing solenoid. The recording tape H2, which is a narrow paper tape about wide, is wound on a storage reel H3 at the left of the machine, from where it is threaded through a tape guide H4 mounted across the top of the bracket l l I, and having openings in the bottom over the type wheels. At the right side of the machine, the tape feeds outward between a metal idler roller H5, and a soft rubber drive roller I l6 having projecting sides I I! which 7 cents into the dollars.

11 also'serve as tape guides. The drive roller H6 is connected through a gear train H8 to a tape driving motor H9 mounted. on the chassis I00, and whose shaft also carries a cam I controlling a snap switch I2! also mounted on the chassis. The start circuit of the motor H9 is closed momentarily, after the printing operation by a power relay I22, and as soon as the motor starts, the cam I20 operates the snap switch I2I, which holds the motor circuit closed for one revolution, independently of relay I22. In Figure 12 the ink ribbon I23 may be seen in the tape guide [I4 just below the paper tape. The ink ribbon reels are also shown at I24 and I25, the ink ribbon driving motors at I25 and I21, the tips of an ink ribbon reversing bar at I28 in Figure 13, and a pair of reversing snap switches at I29 and ISO.

In Figure 13, it will be noted that key operating solenoids, indicated by the solid circles in the upper part of the plate I85, are provided for all of the digit keys of the center row of the machine, representing, in this case, the dollar units column, and for the two rows to the immediate right of center which represent the cents tens and units columns respectively. In the fraction columns at the extreme right,

7 four key solenoids are provided, as shown by the solid circles, to permit the accumulation of decimal fractions corresponding to quarter cents, half cents, and three-quarter cents, where such fractions may be included in some of the listed prices. .And since each full revolution of a type wheel automatically advances the higher order type wheel on its left one digit, the fractions are automatically carried over into the cents, and the In the present instance, five printing solenoids have been provided for the money totals, including the dollar tens and units, the cents tens and units, and the ftenths of cents columns. This permits printing totals up to $99997, and by providing an additional type wheel and printing solenoid for the third column from the left, money totals up to $999.99? could be printed if desired.

In the second row from the left, in Figure 13,

item-count solenoids are provided for digit keys ity, but the invention is not limited to this construction, since obviously a single print magnet and a common printing bar could be employed just as readily, and of course, other item counts than 1 and 6 could also be provided for, in cases where it is desired to sell groups of items for a single price, such as 6 for a dollar, two for a quarter, et cetera. The use of group items would require merely that a corresponding number of chutes be multipled together, and operated simultaneously from a single set of perforations in the tape, together with the proper count solenoid of the adding machine.

Figure 14 shows a type wheel assembly, comprising a type wheel I and an associated gear wheel I4I, rotatably mounted as a unit in a small U shaped bracket I42, .by means of the shaft I 43. Each such assembly is mounted on the inner side of the long bracket III (Fig. 13), by means of screws, and the complete unit is then inserted into the front end of the machine until the gears M6 engage the corresponding gear wheels I44 in the machine, which normally drive the display wheels now removed.

Figure 15 represents, as previously stated, a portion of recording tape having printed thereon the record of an order consisting of 2 items and involving a charge of 32 cents. All zeros are printed, to facilitate reading the values, and should different Comptometers be employed for difierent classes of goods, each might also be required to print a class symbol on the tape, which could readily be provided on one of the item count tape wheels for example.

In Figure 16, which shows in diagrammatic form, the general arrangement of the recordingtape and ink-ribbon feed mechanisms, considered seen from the front with intervening equipment omitted, the paper tape I I 2, as it comes from the storage reel I I3 on the left, passes under a guide roller I Bil, threads through the tape and inkribbon guide I I4, shown in Figure 1'7, from Where it passes between the idler H5 and the drive roller H5. The drive roller is arranged to advance this tape about a foot following each printing operation. F at braking springs, not shown, are tensioned against the sides of the paper reel H3 and the drive roller I IE to stop these quickly when the power is removed. The ink ribbon I23, seen just below the tape H2 in the center of Figures 16, after passing over guide rollers IBI and I82 at the sides of the machine just beyond the ends of the guide I I i, is then carried downward, passed under other guide rollers I63 and I64, through narrow slits out part way across both ends of the reversing bar I28, and thence to the storage and feed spools I2 and I25. The reversing bar I28 is slidably mounted on the under side of the chassis I I19 between rollers I65 and I66 and a similar pair to the rear thereof, with the right angled tips of the reversing bar projecting above the chassis, through holes of a size to permit free lateral movement. Thus when one of the reels such as I25 is almost empty, a small rivet such as IE1, located in the ribbon near each end thereof, presses against the slot in the near end of the reversing bar and moves the latter to its other position. This causes the toggle mechanism of Figure 18 to reverse itself, thereby reversing the circuit of the motors I 26 and I2? as shown in Figure 17.

In Figure 17, which shows a diagrammatic view of the ink-ribbon feed mechanism considered as seen from above, with intervening equipment omitted, this equipment is shown just after a reversal, with the spool I25 empty and the bar I28 forced to the extreme left by the rivet 67. In this position the toggle mechanism of Figure 18 forces the pin I'iil which protrudes through a hole HI in the floor of the chassis also to the left, and against the operating spring of the snap switch I29. This forces the pin of the snap switch down against a strained contact spring, not shown, on the inside of the snap switch, whereupon this spring changes position quickly and closes a circuit to the driving motor I27. The motor I27! thereupon starts driving the reel I25 at very slow speed through a gear train built into the motor, until the rivet on the other end of the ink ribbon engages the slot in the left end of the reversing bar, thereby forcing the reversing bar and, the pin I'Iil-on the toggle mechanism totheright. This closes the internal contacts, not shown, of the snap switch I39, and opens those of snap switch I29, thereby starting motor I25 and stopping motor iZ'I to reverse the movement. This motor circuit is dead when the motor switch of the Coinptoineter, not shown, is in the off position.

The toggle mechanism controlled by the reversing bar, as shown separately in Figure 18, is considered as seen from below the chassis $89, as if the complete machine had been tilted upward and backward from the front end, so as to preserve the same relationships of right and left as in the other views. Thus in Figure 18, the reversing bar I28 is shown operated to the left, be tween-the front rollers IE and its and the rear rollers I St} and I8I. In this position the toggle arm I82 and its reversing pin I'IB are also in their left position, being forced into this position by the action of the coiled springs I33 and i M as the pin I85 in the reversing bar, to which they are attached, passes to the left of the pivot point I85 ofthe toggle arm. The other positions of the reversing-bar and toggle arm are indicated by dotted lines. The numerals I37 and I88 indicate the. openings in the floor of the chassis for the tips of the reversing bar, while the opening for the toggle arm reversing pin is indicated at I'EI.

In Figure 19 which shows the translator circuits including the contact plate, the brushes, and the miscellaneous control relays, the contact plate 8 is at the top of the sheet, with the brushes I5 shown directly below it, as though seen from above, with the direction of movement of the control tape assumed tobe towards the top of thesheet as indicated by the arrows. With respect to the functions of the brushes, the three columns on the right contain twelve chute code brushes, the rows representing respectively thousands, hundreds, tens, and units. Gnthe left the top three rows contain the money brushes, including twelve price code brushes in four columns, with the rows representing respectively dollars, tens of cents, and units of cents, together w th a fifth column of three representing fractions, of cents, in this case quarter cents, half cents and three quarter cents. In the bottom row, to the left of the units chute code brushes, are two item count brushes, two corntometer selecting brushes, and a cancelling brush, The end of paper brush shown below the others is located in a full row ahead of the first or bottom row, while the control brush, shown on the lower right is alsolocated slightly in advance of the bottom row, in order to prepare the circuits for the other brushes just before they become lined up with the corresponding perforations in the tape. The tape feed motor is indicated at IBM to the right of the brushes, and the series start contacts 35 and 37, controlled by the translator cover, as previously described, are shown directly below the brushes.

With reference to the miscellaneous control relays, shown in Figure 19, the relays I959, IQIt and I52il are slow-to-operate printing sequence relays controlled from relay I930 for the successive operation of the Comptometer printing and reset magnets, while the relays I538 and I956 are printing star relays operated by the end-of-tape brush when the passage of the tape through the translator has been completecl. Relay I948 is the cancel relay, which operates Whenever a cancel perforation is encountered t render-the associa d group of perforations ineifective. Relay I955 is anormally operated slow-to-release pulse timing relay which controls the length of pulse to the chute and key solenoids, and relay I980 is a selection reset relay operated upon the release of relay I955 to restore the operated select relays in readiness for the next selection. Relays I965 and IS'Iil are pulse start relays which operate from the select relays to close the operate circuits of the selected chute and key solenoids. Relays I915 and I 989 are motor start relays controlled from the start contacts 36 and 37, relay I iii-35 is the contact plate relay which disconnects ground from the plate 8 as soon as the select relays have operated, and relay I 990 is the control relay which operates from the control brush to prepare, the operation of the select relays.

In Figure 20, which shows the Comptometer select and code relays, the select relays are aligned in a single row across the top of the sheet, while the code relays are shown in three groups of four directly below them. The select relays are controlled from the translator brushes and the code relays in turn are controlled from springs of the select relays, such for example as the make contacts 2003 on the left hand select relay 2009. The first four select relays at the left are the dollars select relays, which control the first group of code relays A, B, C and D, the second four are the tens of cents select relays controlling the second group of code relays AI, BI, CI and DI, and the third four are the units of cents select relays controlling the third group of code relays A2, B2, C2 and D2. The other select relays of Figure 20 have no coding function but operate the indicated fraction and item-count keys and the Comptometer select relays directly.

With reference to the price code relays A, B, C, D etc., the relays of each group operate similarly in combination or singly, to prepare a circuit to any one of the nine digit leads of the corresponding digital order leading to theComptometors, in accordance with the following table:

Relays operated:

Figure 2| shows circuits for three Compton:- eters including a money totalizing Comptometer shown enclosed by the rectangle 2I20, a departmentalizing C'omptometer X indicated by the rectangle 2I3Il, and a departmentalizing Comptorneter Y indicated by the rectangle 2H0, Leads to a fourth or order totalizing Comptometer Z, not shown, are also indicated at the upper right, enclosed by the dotted bracket ZISII. The Comptometers X, Y and Z are all printing Comptometers, exactly like that illustrated in Figures 12 to 18, including itemcount and price key solenoids I86, printing solenoids Id'i, reset solenoid I28, the tape feed motor I I8, and its controlling relay I22 and cam I26. The reset and tape-feed circuits are shown in detail only in Comptometer X, and are indicated in Comptometer by the blank rectangle 2I5U.. The X and Y" Comptometers are also operated separately under the control of relays 2103 and 2H0, depending on the class of merchandise as indicated by the perforations of the order tape which may include items of either or both classes. The relays Neil and 2H3 are gang relays like that shown and described in Patent No. 2,135,832 issued on November 8, 1938 to Herbert F. Obergfell. Each of the three lower dotted contacts on these relays actually represent nine sets of make contacts, corresponding to the various digits.

Comptometer Z on the other hand, operates on all items regardless of class, to give the complete item and price totals for the entire order.

These totals are of course, automatically cleared from all three machines following the printing operation, at the completion of the filling of each order. Comptometer 2M8 which is a standard non-printing Cornptometer except for the addition of price key solenoids as indicated, operates on all items, and continues to accumulate the prices thereof to show the total business done during the day. This machine would be reset by hand at the end of each day, after these figures were copied from the display wheels. If no departmentalizing were desired of course, Comptomers X and and relays Zldll and tilt would not be required, and the key solenoids of the Comptometers M23 and Z would merely be connected together in multiple as shown. The brushes X and Y in the translator would then be available for other uses.

In Figure 22 which shows the chute select and code relays and three of the chute connect relays, the chute select relays are shown across the top of the sheet, and the chute code relays are shown in four groups of three below them. Here again the select relays are controlled from the corresponding translator brushes, and the code relays are'controlled in turn from springs on the select relays, such for example as the springs 22i13 of the left hand select relay 2233. The first three chute select relay are the thousands select relays which control the first group of chute code relays E, F and G, the second three are the hundreds select relays controlling the second group of chute code relays Ei, FI and GI, the third three are the tens select relays controlling the third group of chute code relays E2, F2 and G2, while the fourth three are the units select relays controlling the fourth group of chute code relays E3, F3 and G3.

The code relays E, F, G, etc. in turn, control various chute connect relays, such for example as therelays 2215i, 2285 and 229i) shown at the lower right in Figure 22. The code relays of each group operate similarly, in combination or singly, to prepare a circuit to any one of eight digit leads of the corresponding digital order leading to the chute connect relays, in accordance with the following table:

In Figure 23, at the upper left thereof, are

shown four thousands connect relays 23m,

2329, 2330 and 2340, out of a possible total of eight. These relays are controlled from the code relays E, F and G of Figure 22, and are each provided, as indicated, with eight pairs of make contacts. One spring of each of these contact pairs is connected in multiple to corresponding springs of the other relays and to a corresponding spring on the code relay El of Figure 22. The other sprin of each pair is connected to an individual multi-contact hundreds connect relay, such as 2353 and 2355, eight of which, carrying 64 pairs of make contacts each, are required for each thousands group. In the drawing, these relays are indicated as single relays, for convenience, but actually each is intended to represent two gang relays operated in multiple, of the general type covered by the previously mentioned Patent No. 2135,832, issued to Herbert F. Gbergfell. The tens connect relays are shown in Figure 22 as previously mentioned, only the first, second and eighth being shown however, bearing respectively the numerals 2210, 3235i and 2293. These relays, which are controlled from the code relays E2, F2 and G2, serve to connect the units conductors from the code relays E3, F3 and G3 through to the contacts of the operated hundreds connect relay in the selected thousands group. This will prepare the circuit of the selected chute operating or units connect relay, of which four are shown at the lower left in Figure 23, numbered 2360, 2365, 2373 and 2315. The selected units relay operates when the control relays of Figure 19 connect ground battery to the springs of the G3 units code relay, and serves in turn to operate the corresponding chute solenoid. These solenoids, four of which are shown numbered H82, 88,2825 and 23823 utilize alternating current rather than direct, because of their considerable current drain. The total number of chute solenoids in each tens group is 8, in each hundreds group 64, and in each thousands group 8X64 or 512. Thus with four hundreds groups 4 5l2 or 2048 chutes could be operated, and with eight hundreds groups 4096 chutes could be operated, from the brush arrangement illustrated.

The description of the drawings and apparatus and the general mode of operation having been completed, a typical customer order, as represented by the two-item order tape illustrated in Figure 7, will be theoretically put through the translator, in order to show the operation of the circuits of Figures 19 to 23 in more detail, and facilitate complete understanding of the system.

The cashier upon receiving the tape, inserts it in the translator in the position shown in Figure 7 and closes the translator cover, as previously mentioned. The front end of the tape prevents any electrical contact between the contact plate 3 and the brushes 15, but when the cover is completely closed, plate 8 presses the tape lightly against the brushes, and the start contacts 36 and 3? close an obvious circuit for the motor start relay I980 from ground at contacts 36 to negative battery through the winding of the said relay. Relay i936 operating, at its make contacts I982 prepares a circuit for control relay I990, and at make contacts I98! closes an obvious circuit to the motor-start power relay I915 which operates, and starts the tape feed motor i914. The tape is then driven quickly through the translator by the motor, and causes the required operations.

The passage of the first ranks of perforations over the first rows of brushes is without effect, and nothing happens until the first control hole, on the extreme right side of the tape, encounters tacts on the relay 2I99 to operate the key solenoids 2I3I and 2I32 in the Comptometer X. Comptometers X and Z and 2I29 will accordingly advance their price type wheels to record the price of the first item as 15 cents, while Comptometers X and Z will in addition advance their item count type wheels to indicate a count of 1.

Shortly after the first group of perforations in the tape has moved clear of all of the brushes, the pulse timing relay I955 restores, due to the condenser I958A becoming discharged, the discharge time in seconds being equal to the product of the condenser capacity in farads times the resistance of the coil in ohms. Relay I955 thereupon opens its make contacts I959, I958 and I959, and closes its break contacts I951. Contacts I959 remove ground from conductor 2294 and the chute relay 2399 which thereupon restores and releases chute solenoid I I92, while contacts I959 remove ground from conductor 2994 and hence from the operated Comptometer key solenoids and the Comp tometer select relay 2I99, which also restore. Make contact I959 open the condenser circuit, and break contacts I951 cause the operation of selection reset relay I999. Relay I999 operating, at break contacts I992 removes locking ground from control relay I999 which restores, since its Relay I999 also, at break contacts I99I disconnects negative battery from the select relays of Figures 22 and 20, and the operated relays in these groups restore, together with their associated code relays. The release of the select relays in turn removes ground from relay I985 and I919 and these relays both restore. Relay I995 replaces ground on contact plate 9, while relay I919, at make contacts I91I opens the circuit of the operated chute connect relays which restore; at make contacts I912 opens the circuit of relay I995 which restores; and at break contacts I913 re-establishes the circuit of pulse timing relay I955 which re-operates, to re-charge the condenser 1958A and to release relay I999. The second group of perforations, representing item number 2825, also in class X, and priced at 17 cents, now passes over the brushes, and just as these holes are lined up before their respective brushes, the second control hole engages the control brush, whereupon control relay I999 again operates and locks, to prepare the operation of the select relays as before. In the three item columns on the right side of the tape, it will be seen that there is one hole in first column of the thousands row, three holes in the hundreds row, one hole in the first column of the tens row, and two holes in the units row, in the first and second columns. When therefore these holes engage their corresponding brushes, they cause the operation of the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th,

' 7th, 10th and 11th select relays in Figure 22.

Likewise, in the five price columns on the left, 'it will be noted that there are again no perforations in the fractions column, that there are no perforations in the dollar row, one in the first column of the tens of cents row, and two in the cents row, in the first and fourth columns. These perforations will cause the operation of the 5th, 9th and 12th select relays in Figure 29, while the count 1 and perforations in the last row will operate the 16th and 18th select relays as before.

The operated select relays lock to their upper make contacts, and cause the operation of the contact plate and pulse start relays I985 and I919 as before. At the same time, the operated 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th and 11th select relays of Figure 22, at their respective make contacts 2293, 22I8, 2223, 2223, 2233, 2248 and 2253, cause the operation of the associated item code relays E, El, FI and GI, E2 and E3 and F3, while the operated 5th, 9th and 12th select relays in Figure 20, at their make contacts 2923, 2043 and 2958 cause the operation of the associated price code relays AI, and A2 and D2. The operated 16th and 18th select relays in Figure 20 prepare the circuits of the l-count solenoids and the X-Comptometer-select relay 2 I 99, as before.

Contact plate relay I995 operating, again removes ground from contact plate 9, while pulse start relay I919 at break contacts I913 opens the operate circuit to the pulse timing relay I955, at make contacts I912 closes the operate circuit of pulse start relay I995, and at make contacts I91I puts ground on the springs of the thousands, hundreds and tens code relays of Figure 22, as before, by way of conductor 2295. Code relay E being operated at this time, this ground passes through the outer break contacts of the G and F relays and the outer make contacts of the operated E relay to operate the second thousandsconnect relay 2329. This same ground at the same time passes through the outer break contacts of the unoperated G2 and F2 code relays and the outer make contacts of the operated E2 relay to operate the second tens-connect relay 2289. Upon the operation of the thousandsconnect relay 2329 the ground on conductor 2295 passes through the inner make contacts of the operated GI, FI and EI code relays and the inner make contacts of the operated thousandsconnect relay 2329, and operates the eighth hundreds-connect relay 2355 of the second thousands group.

Pulse start relay I995 upon operating, at make contacts I999 causes the operation of the chute operate relay 2319, over the following circuit; ground at break contacts I952, break contacts I954, make contacts I959 and I999, conductor 2294, break contacts of the un-operated code relay G3, outer make contacts of the operated code relay F3, second outer make contacts of the operated code relay E3, fifth make contacts from the left on the operated tens-connect relay 2289, make contacts 2359 on the operated hundredsconnect relay 2355, and the winding of relay 2319 to negative battery. Relay 2319 upon operating over this circuit connects alternating current to chute solenoid 2925 which thereupon trips chute number 2825 for the ejection of the second item of the order.

Pulse start relay I995 also at make contacts I991 connects ground to conductor 2994 as before, from break contacts I9 II, by way of break contacts I954A and make contacts I959. This ground thereupon passes through make contacts of the operated tens-of-cents code relay AI, inner break contacts of the un-operated tens-of-cents code relays BI, CI and DI, and cable 2I12 to the digit-1 key solenoids in the tens-of-cents row, in the totalizing Comptometers 2I29 and Z, and both of these solenoids operate and advance their type wheels. Another portion of this ground also passes through make contacts of the operated cents code relay A2, inner break contacts of the un-operated B2 and C2 code relays, inner make contacts of the operated D2 code relay, and cable 2I15 to the digit-7 key solenoids in the cents row of the totalizing Comptometers 2I29 and Z whereupon both of these solenoids also operate and advance their type Wheels. Another portion of this ground passes through make contacts -18asbefore to operate the bottom item count keysolenoid on Comptometer Z which also advances its type wheel. And still another portion passes through make contacts 2000 as before to operate the Comptometer select relay 2I00. The ground from make contacts 2018 on conductor 2 I 14' thereupon passes through make contacts 2I02 to the bottom item-count key solenoid H39- in Comptometer X which operates and advances its type wheel, while the'grounds from the price. code relays'through the cables 2I12 and 2I151 pass through make contacts corresponding to the-upper and middle dotted contacts on relay 21:00 to. the digit-1 key solenoid 2I3I and the digit-7: key solenoid 2I33 in the Comptometer X," both of which operate and advance their type wheels to add in the second price.

Meanwhile, the second group of perforations has. also moved clear of the brushes, and shortly thereafter, pulse timing relay I955 again restores, after the usual delay, and again removes ground from conductors 2204 and 2004 to release the operated chute and key solenoids as before. Relay. I955 also at break contacts I951 re-operates theselection reset relay I900 which in turn causes the release-of the control relay I990 and the operated select relays of Figures 22 and 20. The select relays releasing, cause the release of relays I985 and I910. Relay I985 re-groundsthe translator contact plate, while relay I910 releases pulse start relay I955 and the operated connect relays, and re-operates pulse timing relay I955. This causes the re-charging of the timing condenser I958A and: the release of. relay I960, as before.

The end of the tape now clears the end-ofpaper brush, and shortly thereafter, clears the control brush, causing both of these brushes tomake contact with plate 8, now grounded from contacts I996. The end of paper brush is without immediate effect, due to the fact that the battery feed for relay I950 is open at make contacts I99l. Assoon as the tape clears the control brush however, control relay I990 operates and, completes the circuit of relay I950 which also operates and locks, through its upper winding and its preliminary make contacts I95I', to the start contacts 36 and 31. Relay I950 also, at break contacts I952 opens the. operate circuit of. relay I990 now locked to break contacts I062, and at break contacts I954 and I954A disables the circuits leading to conductors 2204 and 2004 to: prevent the operation of any chute or key solenoidsgat this time. Relay I950 further, at make contacts I953 closes a circuit to the print start relay I930 which. operates.

Print start relay I930 upon operating, closes a circuitto the printing solenoids I01 of the Comptjometers X, Y and Z by way of break contacts I922 and conductor 2H6, and the printing solenoids: operate and print the accumulated totals, in' this case, an item count of'2 and a price total ofq32 vcentsfor Comptometers X and Z and nothing for Comptometer Y. This same ground from make contacts I93I also causes the operation of theslow to operate print sequence relay I920 aftera short delay, to allow time: for the proper operation of theprinting solenoids. Relay I920, at makecontacts I92I closes a circuit to the slow to. operate print sequence relay I9I0, at break contacts I922 opens the printing circuit, and at make; contacts I922 closes the reset circuit by way of break contacts I90I and conductor 2111. This; causes the simultaneous operation of the resetsolenoid I08 and the tape feed relay" I2 2 in the Comptometers X, Y and Z. The reset solenoids restore any off normal type wheels to zero, and the tape feed relays at make contacts I22A connect alternating current to the tape feed motors H9. The tape feed motor upon starting, closes contacts I2I from the cam I20 thereby shunting contacts I22A. The motors thereupon make one complete revolution and stop, advancing the recording. tapes the required amount. Sequence relay I9 I0 operating after a slight delay, closes a circuit to sequence relay I900, which also operates after a similar delay and opens the reset circuit. This permits motor II9 to stop when the cam again opens contacts l2I at the Comptometer.

Meanwhile the end of the translator tape has cleared the bottom row of brushes of Figure 19, permitting the operation of the corresponding select relays as well as the cancel relay I950. The cancel relay further opens the chute and key solenoid operate circuits and the select relays again operate relays I985 and I910. Relay I985 takes ground oi the contact plate to prevent the operation of any more select relays, and relay I910 re-operates relay I955 and opens the pull up circuit of. relay I955. The operation of relay I955 is without efiect, but the release of relay I955 which occurs after the usual delay period, re-operates relay I980. Relay I960 releases the control relay I990, the cancel relay I940, and any operated'select, code and connect relays. The release of the select relays causes the release of relays I985 and I910. The release of relay I985 is without effect but the release of relay I910 causes the release of relay I965 and the reoperation of relay I955.

The cashier upon seeing the control tape ejected from the translator, presses the cover release button, which causes the cover to open and break the contact between the plate 8 and the brushes. Start contact 36 also opens and causes the release of relays I950 and I980. Relay I950 causes the release of relay I930, which releases the print sequence relays I920, I9I0 and I900. Relay I980 causes the release of relay I915, which stops the translator motor. The equipment is now again normal and ready to handle another order.

To cancel an item, the cashier, before inserting. the. control tape in the translator, punches out the cancel hole in the corresponding group of perforations, as previously mentioned. This hole is made somewhat larger than the other perforations, so that it engages its brush about the same time as the control hole. Relay I990 operates from the control hole and connects negative battery to relay I940 which thereupon operates from the cancel hole, and at break contacts IBM and I942 disables the conductors 2004 and 2204 to prevent any Comptometer or chute operation. The other perforations then engage their brushes, and the corresponding select relays operate. Relays I985, I910 and I965 then operate and I910 opens the circuit of relay I955. The perforations representing the cancelled item now move clear of the brushes, and when relay I955 restores, it operates relay I960 which unlocks the control relay I990, which in turn unlocks the cancel relay I940, and the equipment is ready for the next group of perforations, or the end of the tape, as the case may be. Since no chute or Comptometer operation occurs for a cancelled item, it is completely excluded from the order and from the Comptometer totals.

The invention having now been described, what 

